When your kitchen countertops are old, scratched, and worn down, you don't have to feel limited to simply replacing your countertops with the same type of materials. Sometimes changing your countertops can help improve the visual appeal and aesthetic of your entire kitchen. There are several different types of materials that you can choose when you install countertops in Alpharetta. What you chose and what you prefer can vary based on personal preferences as well as your budget. Here are the pros and cons to common stone materials that homeowners can chose for their next countertops.

Natural Stone

Natural stone are usually molded and hardened before being cut into slabs of various thickness to create the parts needed to create your kitchen countertops. The most common types of natural stone that are used for this purpose are granite, soapstone, limestone, and marble. Most of these types of natural stone can come in a variety of colors. Yet they tend to be various types of neutral colors, making them compatible with most kitchen decors and wall color choices. Natural stones tend to vary in regard to their installation and durability. Granite is very heavy but is also delicate to handle. Mishandling granite can cause it break and replacing the material due to damages can be very expensive. It also requires veining and periodic sealing to stay in top condition, which increases its annual maintenance expenses. Soapstone, limestone, and marble can be easily sanded to remove minor stains and scratches, but they are more prone to getting scratches on their surfaces. They don't require veining or lamination to stay in top condition. While granite, soapstone, and limestone have high resistance to heat damage, marble is more prone to high temperatures that can cause it to crack. However, full replacements of natural stone are required when the surfaces have deep scratches, chips, cuts and deep stains. Since natural stone materials are so sensitive, it is recommended that repairs are done by a professional to minimize repair and replacement expenses.

Refined Stone

Refined stone are grinded or melted down to create slabs that have unique or distinct patterns and designs in the material. As a result, refined stone have a large palette of colors and design patterns you can choose from. One of the most common type of refined stone materials used for making countertops is quartz. While it can imitate the stone-like appearance of traditional stone countertops, they require less maintenance. They can come in a larger variety of colors so you have more options in making the decor of your kitchen more fitting to your personal needs and preferences. Refined stone countertops have a high tolerance to heat and scratches, but the corner edges of quartz countertops can be easily chipped or damaged. This risk can be minimized by using rounded edges rather than pointed ones. Another popular type of refined stone for countertops is glass. Most of the glass used to make countertops is recycled, making these countertops eco-friendly because excess material can be used for other countertop projects or replacements. The glass can either have large shard-like patterns to give your kitchen an artistic appeal or a more grounded appearance that provides a more relaxing vibe. Recycled glass designs can be made to complement any aesthetics you want your kitchen to have. They have a high resistance to stains and scratches. While glass has heat resistant, it can be still prone to cracks when exposed to extremely hot sources. While both are required to use a professional for repairs, recycled glass countertops replacements are more environmentally conscious. The damaged glass can be broken down and reused for your replacement.